Michael Klerck

Michael Klerck was born on Robben Island, and grew up in Cape Town South Africa. He manages one of the oldest websites on Robben Island itself - www.robbenisland.org.

He began writing at an early stage, but concentrated more on his career in education, qualifying as an elementary school teacher, and then going on to spend more than twenty years at various community colleges teaching various subjects that included Management Communication, Public Finance, Computer Graphics and Sales Management. He is the author of a number of textbooks for colleges, including one (Public Finance) that has enjoyed one of the longest uninterrupted runs in South Africa.

Recognising his strength in telling stories, Michael wrote What The Orchid Says, an esoteric book which uses the technique of channelled writing in order to communicate thoughts on Life and being: this book will surprise any reader who loves to delve, think and explore on a metaphysical level. After publishing this book alone in Cape Town, he had limited success, with readers contacting him, and was also privileged to have the owner of The World Of Birds, in Hout Bay select a quote for a plaque at the centre.

A few years later he wrote his first children's fantasy book, The Key To Tantalis - a Narnia-style adventure fantasy for senior graders. At one point it was considered by a Hollywood producer; the timing perhaps not right - Michael still holds the hope that its cliff hanging scenes would make a good movie!

In 2001 he was lucky enough to be recognised by Jason Brown, the then editor of Men's Health, and a number of small and full-feature articles appeared, winning him a Mondi Paper Magazine Award.

Lessons From The Sauna is set both in White Rock, BC and Cape Town - the subtitle "not your average online dating novel" gives the reader some idea of the potential; this novel has received excellent reviews from readers around the world. It is both deeply moving in part and also very funny.